PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Regional Transit moved 485,000 riders and generated more than $1.2 million in new revenue during the 2026 NFL Draft from April 23-25, officials say.
RELATED COVERAGE >>> NFL Draft in Pittsburgh sets all-time attendance record
The three-day ride total represented a 51% increase compared to the average ridership for two typical weekdays and one Saturday in March.
“PRT helped make the draft accessible to everyone,” Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato said. “This was a moment for Pittsburgh to shine, and transit made it possible for hundreds of thousands of people to be part of it while also delivering real economic value for our region.”
RELATED COVERAGE >>> Channel 11 rides the T with NFL Draft visitors as PRT transports thousands of passengers
PRT’s four special Football Flyer routes alone carried nearly 60,000 riders, providing direct connections from park-and-ride locations across Allegheny County to the heart of the draft.
Light rail operated every 15 minutes during the event, with increased frequency to every 7 1/2 minutes in Downtown Pittsburgh and the North Shore.
Both light rail and the Monongahela Incline were fare-free through a partnership with Sheetz.
Local bus routes operated on Saturday schedules, ensuring continued service for riders across the county even as the city hosted the global event.
Meanwhile, the more than $1.2 million in new revenue for PRT included approximately $494,000 from advertising sales.
RELATED COVERAGE >>> Nearly 60K pounds of food left over from Pittsburgh’s NFL Draft will be delivered to people in need
Key regional partners also made major investments, with VisitPITTSBURGH contributing $350,000 to support expanded bus service. Sheetz, the Pittsburgh Organizing Committee and The Pittsburgh Foundation funded fare-free access across crucial parts of the system.
“This was Pittsburgh at its best: public agencies, private partners and community leaders coming together to deliver something big,” PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman said. “Transit was at the center of that success. We connected people to opportunity and showed what this region can do when we invest in a system that works.”
RELATED COVERAGE >>> Shapiro predicts NFL Draft will bring major investments to Pittsburgh
Beyond the direct financial impact, the NFL Draft also served as a powerful showcase for the reach and visibility of public transit. PRT vehicles, stations and facilities connected brands with hundreds of thousands of riders and visitors.
“The level of exposure and energy we saw during the Draft was incredible,” PRT Advertising Director Terri Landis said. “It showed that transit isn’t just about getting from point A to point B — it’s a dynamic part of the region’s economic and cultural life.”
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
©2026 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XCUXZC2XYZHCRGNNGKFEX6U3LQ.png)
